- Female Athlete Project Instagram page ‘paid tribute’ to Nathan Cleary
- Photo caption reads: ‘Mary Fowler’s friend wins sports trophy’
Nathan Cleary is the toast of Penrith after leading his team to a fourth straight NRL premiership – but a popular social media page has made the triumph over his girlfriend, Matildas star Mary Fowler – and the results are hilarious.
The Female Athlete Project uploaded an image to Instagram on Tuesday with the football great celebrating a goal against France with the accompanying caption: ‘Mary Fowler’s friend wins sports trophy.’
Panthers halfback Cleary appears as an inset in the same photo, alongside the coveted NRL silverware.
And it didn’t take long for Fowler fans to chime in with some quality talk.
“It’s great that her boyfriend has a hobby,” one supporter cheekily posted.
Another said: ‘That’s right, okay? I wouldn’t know. I’ve never actually watched men’s sports. It’s just not that exciting.’
A third said: ‘That’s pretty good for a man. Mary must be proud of him.’
A fourth asked: ‘Wow! How does he balance being a good friend at home with a career?
Nathan Cleary is the toast of Penrith after leading his team to a fourth consecutive NRL premiership – but a social media page (pictured) made his triumph all about his girlfriend, Matildas star Mary Fowler
One commenter thinks it’s hilarious ‘great that Mary Fowler’s friend has a hobby’
Another stated that she has ‘never really watched men’s sports because it’s just not that exciting’
A third commentator thought Cleary winning a fourth consecutive NRL title with Penrith was ‘pretty good for a man’
Mary Fowler showed her Instagram followers Nathan Cleary and the Panthers were on her mind ahead of the NRL grand final
Earlier this week, Panthers coach Ivan Cleary (left) revealed his son will postpone surgery so he can fly to Britain and spend time with Mary Fowler.
“I think it’s great that she’s helping to raise his profile. He’s doing well, as a man, doing well dating a girl who represents her country while he’s fighting for a Sydney suburb!’ added another.
‘It scored so low, those poor men. They need to score more tries like the women,” said another fan, appearing to say the NRL is not at the same level as the NRLW.
It comes as Panthers chief executive Brian Fletcher confirmed the club’s bold ‘plan’ for Matildas star Fowler during the team’s postponed meeting with fans in Sydney’s west on Wednesday.
He joked that bringing Fowler back to Australia could make the process easier when it comes to keeping the halfback and his father, head coach Ivan Cleary, at the club long-term.
‘Last year I said on the radio that if we win in ’23, we will definitely win in ’24 and ’25. So don’t be afraid of next year,” Fletcher told supporters.
‘We also still have ’26 and ’27 to go. And why I say that is that Ivan Cleary and Nathan Cleary are signed until the end of ’27.
“It is my job and the CEO of football, Matt Cameron, to extend that as far as possible.”
Fletcher added ironically, “Matt’s job is to get Mary back to Australia.”
But Matildas fans shouldn’t get their hopes up. It is highly unlikely that Fowler, 21, will return to Australia to play domestically as her football career abroad is only just beginning in the Women’s Super League.
She is a key figure at Manchester City and it seems the loved-up couple will have to maintain their long-distance relationship.
It comes as Ivan Cleary revealed his son will postpone surgery so he can fly to Britain and spend time with Fowler.
“He’s going abroad to see Mary and then he’ll sort it out,” Ivan said at the club’s awards ceremony on Tuesday.
